Machilus macranthus var. glaucescens (Nees) Chakrab., Ghoshal, Anand Kumar & V.K.Rawat

 

Family: Lauraceae

Synonym: Persea macrantha (Nees) Kosterm., Ocotea glaucescens Nees

Vernacular name: Kulamavu, Kurma, Malamavu, Ooravu, Uramavu

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in sacred groves

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka

Flowering and Fruiting: December-May

Key identification features: Evergreen trees with surface pale brown, mottled with dark blotches, scurfy and thinly scaly, rough, exfoliations small, brittle; blaze pinkish; branchlets glabrous. Flowers bisexual, pale yellow, Fruit a berry globose, green with white specks, aromatic; seed one, globose.

Uses: It is a traditional medicinal plant being used in the treatment of asthma and rheumatism.

Cinnamomum sulphuratum Nees

 

 Family: Lauraceae

Synonym:  Cinnamomum sulphuratum var. wagneri Lukman., Laurus cassia Wall.

Vernacular name: Kattukaruva

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen and shola forests

Distribution: Western Ghats

Flowering & Fruiting: January-May

Key identification features: Evergreen trees, young branchlets and young leaves, yellow-tomentose, leaves prominently reticulate and glaucous beneath, often covered with galls. Perianth yellow-tomentose.

Uses: Different parts of this plant are commonly used as a substitutes for cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), The plant (part not specified) is used for treating wounds, fever, intestinal worms, headaches and menstrual problems

Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm.f.) J.Presl

 

Family: Lauraceae

Synonym:  Cinnamomum malabathricum (Roxb.) Lukman., Laurus malabathrica Roxb.

Vernacular name: Elavarung, Illavangam, Karappa, Kuppamaram, Patta, Shanthamaram

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-Evergreen forests, also in the plains

Distribution: South India

Flowering & Fruiting: January-June

Key identification features:  Small evergreen tree, with reddish-brown bark, aromatic. Leaves large, coriaceous, shining, 3-nerves from the base; berry large, globose-oblong, supported by a large thickened cup of perianth.

 Uses: For treating wounds, fevers, intestinal worms, headaches and menstrual problems. The plant is also used for treatment of some tumours

Actinodaphne wightiana (Kuntze) Noltie

 

Family: Lauraceae

Synonym: Actinodaphne hirsuta Hook.f., Actinodaphne malabarica N.P.Balakr.

Vernacular name: Kambilivirinji, Malavirinji, Pattutthalli, Pukachan, Neyaram

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-Evergreen forests

Distribution: Western Ghats

Flowering & Fruiting: August-March

Key identification features: Large evergreen trees, branchlets fulvous pubescent, petiole thick, villous pubescent beneath when young. Inflorescence of sub-racemose umbels tawny-silky-pubescent. Perianth ovate-oblong. Berry globose.

Uses: Leaf infusion useful in the treatment of urinary disorders anddiabetes, timber,fuelwood.